A veterinary surgeon from Hampshire and a project manager from Berkshire have been selected to join the UK’s largest cat charity’s Board of Trustees.
Dr Kit Sturgess, FRCVS and Nikki Butcher have been appointed by Cats Protection to sit alongside seven fellow volunteers to steer the governance of the charity.
Dr Sturgess is a recognised specialist in small animal internal medicine and was drawn to the role by his long-standing interest and experience in feline medicine and a desire to improve cat welfare. 
“Cats have been a rather ‘second-class’ animal in the vet world for a long time, with far more research being dedicated to dogs,” explained Dr Sturgess.
“Cants can also be much harder to read, being extremely adept at hiding pain and stress, so I really want to help people to understand their feline companions better in order to improve cat welfare.”
Having recently stepped down from work, project manager Nikki owns two cats Bluebelle and Oscar and brings with her a wealth of project management.
She has been involved in Cats Protection’s Bracknell & Wokingham Districts Branch for the past 13 years, as a supporter and fundraiser and later as a volunteer fosterer and branch committee member.
Nikki, said: “Having been involved with Cats Protection for a number of years, I’m really excited to be taking on this new role now that I have more time to dedicate. As a Trustee I’ll be learning more about the wider workings of the charity and working with my colleagues to overcome any challenges in order to continue improving cat welfare.”
Linda Upson, Chair of Trustees at Cats Protection, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kit and Nikki onto our Board of Trustees. Together they bring a wealth of experience, which will be a great benefit in shaping the future of Cats Protection and helping us to continue to improve the lives of cats across the UK.”
